Pneumatic apparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic apparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon comprising a cylinder which can be impinged by a compressed air source, actuation of the cylinder being controlled by a first valve. There is provided a second valve which is open in its starting position, and upon actuating the first valve the second valve can be closed for interrupting the delivery of air to the cylinder.

United States Patent w:

Hoffmann et al.

PNELMATKI APPARATUS FOR FIRING AN AUTOMATIC FlRlNG WEAPON Inventors:(iiinter Wilhelm l-loffmann. Le

Lignon'. Gilbert Magntilla Romaine. both of Switzerland Assigncc:Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik ()erlikon-Buhrle. Zurich. Switzerland Filed;Feb. 12. 1974 Ap No: 441.807

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 3. W73 Switzerland i. 3084/73LES. 89/136: 89/12) R: 89/129 B;

89/137 lnt. Cl... F-ild 11/02 Field of Search..... 89, 27 E. 27 R17 G,129 R. 89/129 B. 133. 136

[ June 3, 1975 l 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.640.1772/1972 Hottingcr 89/136 Primary Ii.\'anz1'nerStephen C. BentleyAttorney. Agent, or FirmWerner W. Klecman [57] ABSTRACT A pneumaticapparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon comprising a cylinderwhich can be impinged by a compressed air source actuation of thecylinder being controlled by a first valve. There is provided a secondvalve which is open in its starting position, and upon actuating thefirst valve the second valve can be closed for interrupting the deliverof air to the cylinder.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR FIRING AN AUTOMATICFIRING WEAPON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto a new and improved construction of pneumatic apparatus for firing anauto matic firing weapon and is of the type incorporating a cylinderwhich can be impinged with air by means of a compressed air source,actuation of the cylinder being controlled by a first valve.

According to a known construction of apparatus of this type triggeringof an automatic firing weapon takes place by means of a piston of acylinder arranged directly at the weapon, the cylinder beingpneumatically actuated by remote control. A drawback of this system isthat cessation of firing does not occur automatically, rather must beundertaken by the operating personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved construction of pneumatic apparatus forfiring an automatic firing weapon which is not associated with theaforementioned limitations of the state-of-the-art proposals.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to anew and improved construction of pneumatic apparatus for firing anautomatic weapon wherein after a certain time for instance after asingle shot or for the limiting as a function of time of rapid or seriesfiring there can be automatically stopped the firing operation- Now inorder to implement these and still further objects of the invention,which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, theinvention contemplates that there is provided a second valve which isopen in its starting position and this second valve is closed uponactuating the aforesaid first valve for the purpose of interrupting thedelivery of air to the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understoodand objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein thesingle FIGURE of the drawing schematically illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of pneumatic apparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now theinvention it is to be understood that only enough of the structure ofthe apparatus has been shown in the drawing to simplify the illustrationthereof and to enable those skilled in the art to readily understand theunderlying concepts of this development. Turning therefore morespecifically to the single FIGURE of the drawing it will be recognizedthat there is shown a trigger or actuation mechanism which incorporatestwo actuation pistons 1 and 2 which in any suitable and therefore notparticularly illustrated manner are supported at the firing triggers orthe like of a respective cannon. The actuation pistons l and 2 are eachlocated in a respective cylinder 3 and 4. The cylinders 3 and 4 aresubdivided by the pistons 1 and 2 into two respective compartments orchambers 5, 7 and 6,

8 respectively. The effective or work surfaces 9 and 10 of the pistons 1and 2 which bound the compartments 5 and 6 respectively of the cylinders3 and 4 are larger than the effective or work surfaces 11 and 12 f theactuation pistons l and 2 which bound the compartments 7 and 8. Thesecompartments 7 and 8 are coupled with compressed air sources 13 and 14respectively. In the other compartments and 6 of the cylinders 3 and 4there open the conduits or lines 15 and 16 which lead to the slidevalves 21 and 22.

Depending upon the position of the slide valves 21 and 22 the conduits15 and 16 are either connected with the respective compressed airsources 23 and 24 or vent to the atmosphere.

For the purpose of adjusting the slide valves 21 and 22 compressed airis delivered from the conduits or lines 27 and 28, and which overcomesthe force of a respective spring 25 and 26. The conduits 27 and 28 areconnected via the respective slide valves 29 and 30 with the conduit 31.Each slide valve 29 and 30 forms a feeler which under the force of thesprings 47 and 48 bears against the cartridge belt and is displaced inthe event that the relevant cartridge belt is at its end i.e. depleted.Conduit 27 or 28 is then vented to the atmosphere via the slide valves29 and 30.

The conduit 31 opens into a slide valve 34 defining a reversing orswitching valve and can be connected by means of such slide valve 34either with a conduit 41 or conduit 37. For adjusting or shifting theslide valve 34 compressed air is delivered from the conduit 61 and whichmust overcome the force of a spring 35. By means of the conduit 41 theslide valve 34 is connected with the elements which serve to triggerseries firing or to trigger a limited series firing. In this regard oneis concerned with the slide valves 39 and 40 and furthermore fortriggering the limited series firing a slide valve 43 by means of whicha conduit or line 42 can be either connected with the atmosphere or witha compressed air source 45. The compressed air arriving from the conduit42 at the slide valve 39 overcomes the force of a spring 38 anddisplaces the slide valve 39. For adjusting the slide valve 43compressed air is delivered from the conduit 46 and from a flask orcontainer 52, defining a delay element, and which compressed air mustovercome the force of a spring 44. For triggering the limited seriesfiring there is furthermore provided a slide valve 50 which caninterrupt a conduit 51. Conduit 51 is connected on the one hand via athrottle 69, defining a delay element, with a conduit 55, on the otherhand it leads to the flask or container 52. By means of a check valve 54it is connected with a conduit 53 which opens into the conduit 41. Theconduit 55, into which open the conduits 41 and 51, leads to a footactuation slide valve 80 which is equipped with a connection to theatmosphere, a connection to a compressed air source 79 and a spring 81.The slide valve 34 is furthermore connected with the elements fortriggering an individual shot and for triggering a number of individualshots. Here one is concerned with the slide valve by means of which theconduit 61 is either vented to the atmosphere or can be connected withthe conduit 55.

The conduit 37 connects the slide valve 34 with a slide valve 36. Thisslide valve 36 possesses a connection to a compressed air source 67, anopening 36a to the atmosphere as well as crosswise connecting channels36b for connecting the compressed air source 67 with a conduit 71 andthe conduit 37 with the atmosphere upon actuating the slide valve 36 bymeans of the compressed air emanating from a conduit 20. In the conduit20 the compressed air is delivered via a double check valve 19 fromconduits 17 and 18. The conduit 17 opens into the conduit at the firstcylinder 3. The conduit 18 opens into the conduit 16 at the secondcylinder 4. For adjusting the slide valve 36 there cannot be present forthe compressed air from the conduit any counter force generated bycompressed air from a conduit 66. The conduit 66 can be connected via aslide valve 63 either with a compressed air source 64 or with a furtherconduit 62. For adjusting the slide valve 63 there is deliveredcompressed air from a conduit 78 and which must overcome the force of aspring 65. The conduit 78 is connected via a slide valve 75 either withthe atmosphere, as schematically indicated at 75a, or with a compressedair source 76. For adjusting the slide valve 75 there is deliveredcompressed air from a conduit 73 and a flask or container 72, and whichmust overcome the force of a spring 77. The flask or container 72,defining a delay element, is connected via a check valve 74 with aconduit 71. This conduit 71 is connected via the slide valve 36 eitherto vent into the atmosphere or with the compressed air source 67 and viaa throttle 68, defining a delay element, with a slide valve 70. By meansof the slide valve 70 it is possible to interrupt the conduit 71.Furthermore, the flask or container 72 is connected with the conduit 71.

All of the described compressed air sources are connected to a commoncompressed air container. Instead of employing the described slidevalves or slides it would be possible to use other suitable valves.

The slide valves 40, 50, 60 and 70, each of which define a respectiveadjustment element, can be operated by a common adjustment switch orcontrol switch which has not been particularly illustrated in thedrawing to preserve clarity in illustration. This adjustment switch hasfive positions for five adjustment possibilities of the pneumatictrigger mechanism, namely:

Position 1 :Safety position Position 2 :Single shot Position 3 :Seriesfiring with low cadence Position 4 :Limited series firing Position 5:Series firing with normal cadence of the weapon.

The mode of operation of the described apparatus is as follows: if theadjustment switch is placed into position 1, then the slide valves 40,60 are vented, the connected conduits 41, 61 and the slide valves 50, 70interrupt the connected conduits 51, 71. Upon operating the footactuation slide valve 80 no shots are fired.

If the adjustment switch is brought into position 2 for triggering orfiring an individual shot, then the slide valves 50, 70 interrupt theconnected conduits 51, 71 and the slide valve 40 vents the conduits 41.The slide valve 60 on the other hand is located in a position in whichupon operating the foot actuation slide valve 80 compressed air flowsfrom the compressed air source 79 via the conduit 55 through the conduit61. Consequently, the slide valve 34 is displaced against the force ofthe spring 35 and the conduit 31 is connected with the conduit 37leading to the slide valve 36. From the compressed air source 67compressed air flows through conduits 37 and 31 via the slide valves 29and into the conduits 27 and 28. The slide valves 21 and 22 aredisplaced against the force of the springs 25 and 26 and the conduits 15and 16 are connected with the compressed air sources 23 and 24. Thecompartments or chambers 5 and 6 fill-up and the actuation pistons 1 and2 are impinged. A respective shot is fired. From the conduits 15 and 16compressed air flows through the conduits 17 and 18 via the check valve19 through the conduit 20 to the slide valve 36. Since, however, inposition 2 of the adjustment switch compressed air flows from the source79 also through the conduit 56, the slide valve 57 is actuatedagainstthe action of the spring 58 and there is interrupted delivery ofcompressed air from the source 59 via the conduit 62, the slide valve 63and the conduit 66 to the slide valve 36. Thus, there is not effectiveany counterpressure or counter force to the pressure from the conduit 20at the slide valve 36, such is actuated and the infeed of compressed airfrom the compressed air source 67 to the pistons 1 and 2 is interrupted.The conduit or line 37 is vented via the slide valve 36, the compressedair which flows from the source 67 into the conduit 71 does not causeanything to happen, since the conduit 71 is interrupted by the slidevalve 70. The air pressure from the compressed air sources 13 and 14displace the actuation pistons 1 and 2 back into their starting positionand the process is terminated. There is fired a respective individualshot.

If the adjustment switch is brought into position 3,

then the slide valve 50 interrupts the conduit 51 and the slide valve 40vents the conduit 41, on the other hand, the slide valves 60 and 70 arein a position in which the connected conduits 61 and 71 are continuous,i.e. not interrupted. Upon operating the foot actuated slide valve 80there flows, analogous to the processes which occurred during the abovedescribed position 2, compressed air from the compressed air source 67up to the pistons 1 and 2. The compressed air flowing through theconduit 56 again interrupts the infeed of compressed air from thecompressed air source 59 to the slide valve 36. The compressed air whichflows through the conduit 20 to the slide valve 36 again does experienceany counter force from the conduit 66 and the slide valve 36 isdisplaced. The air from the compressed air source 67 flows through theconduit 71. Now however the slide valve 70 is in the position in whichthe compressed air arriving via the throttle 68 reaches the region ofthe container 72 and such begins to fill. If the pressure in thecontainer 72 and the conduit 73 is sufficiently large, then the force ofthe spring 77 of the slide valve is overcome and the conduit 78 isconnected to the compressed air source 76. This compressed air bringsabout displacement of the slide valve 63 against the force of the spring65 and compressed air again flows to the slide valve 36, this time fromthe source 64 via the slide valve 63 and the conduit 66. The slide valve36 is again displaced back and compressed air flows from the compressedair source 67 via conduit 37 and the slide valve 34, again in thealready described manner, to the actuation pistons l and 2. A furthershot is fired. The entire procedure can repeat for such length of timeas the slide valve 80 is actuated. After each shot the flask orcontainer 72 is vented to the atmosphere via the check valve 74 and theconduit 71.

If the adjustment switch is brought into position 4, for triggeringlimited series firing, then the slide valve 70 interrupts the connectedconduit 71 and via the slide valve 60 the connected conduit 61 is ventedto the atmosphere. The slide valves 50 and 40 are in a position in whichupon actuating the foot actuated slide valve 80 compressed air flowsfrom the compressed air source 79 via the conduit 55 into the conduit 41and via the throttle 69 to the conduit 51. By means of the conduit 41compressed air arrives via the slide valves 39 and 34 at the conduit 31,from which location it flows further via the slide valves 29 and 30through the conduits 27 and 28 and the slide valves 21 and 22 areactuated against the force of the springs and 26. Compressed air arrivesfrom the compressed air sources 23 and 24 through the agency of theconduits 1S and 16 to the actuation pistons 1 and 2. The compressed airwhich flows via the valve 19 through the conduit 20 does not bring aboutany interruption of the infeed of air. The slide valve 36 is displacedby the compressed air from the conduit 20 since the compressed air fromthe conduit 66 escapes to the atmosphere via the slide valve 57. Thisslide valve 57 is displaced by the air flowing out of the conduit 56.Displacement of the slide valve 36 does not have any effect, since thecompressed air flowing up to the pistons 1 and 2 in this case does notemanate from the source 67, rather from the compressed air source 79.Throttled compressed air which flows via the conduit 51 is stored in theflask or container 52 and upon attaining a sufficient pressure such, viathe conduit 46, brings about a displacement of the slide valve 43against the force of the spring 44. Compressed air flows from the source45 through the conduit 42 and displaces the slide valve 39 against theforce of the spring 38. The conduit 41 is interrupted and the seriesfiring is terminated. The duration of series firing is governed by thefilling of the flask or container 52 via the throttle 69. With morepronounced throttling interruption of the series firing occurs at alater time. The flask or container 52 is vented to the atmosphere viathe valve 54 and the conduit 53, as soon as the foot actuation slidevalve 80 is no longer actuated.

With the adjustment'switch in position 5, for triggering series firing,the slide valve 60 vents the connected conduit 61 and the slide valves70 and 50 interrupt the conduits 71 and 51. The slide valve 40 is in aposition in which upon actuating the foot actuation slide valve 80compressed air continuously flows from the compressed air source 79through the conduits 55 and 41. Analogous to the position 4 of theadjustment switch there occurs series firing. Since, however, the slidevalve 50 interrupts the conduit 51 the series firing is not limited viathe slide valves 43 and 39, rather is continuously carried out as longas the foot actuated slide 80 is operated or as long as the slide valves29 and remain open.

For all five positions of the switch the slide valves 29, 30 monitor theassociated cartridge belt and interrupt the connected conduits 27, 28 inthe event that the cartridge belt is depleted. Consequently, the infeedof air to the relevant actuation piston 1 or 2 is interrupted.

The valve 19 prevents, upon disconnecting one of the actuation pistons lor 2 by one of the slide valves, 29 and 30, that also the conduit 15 or16, which leads to the other actuation piston l or 2, will be vented.The actuation pistons l and 2 can function independently of one anotherin the event one of them is disconnected by the slide valve 29 or 30.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understoodthat the invention is notlimited thereto, but

may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope ofthe following claims. ACCORD- INGLY,

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic apparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon,comprising a cylinder which can be impinged with air from a compressedair source, a first valve for controlling actuation of said cylinder, asecond valve which is open in its starting position, said second valvebeing closed upon actuating said first valve in order to interrupt theinfeed of air to said cylinder.

2. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including athird valve and delay elements for returning the second valve back intoits starting position, said third valve being closed in its startingposition and being actuated via the second valve through the agency ofsaid delay elements.

3. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindercan be connected via the first valve with the compressed air source.

4. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including afourth valve which is normally open, a fifth valve for closing thefourth valve for interrupting the infeed of air to the cylinder, saidfifth valve being actuated via delay elements.

5. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including areversing valve for selectively delivering compressed air to thecylinder from the second valve or from the fourth valve.

6. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a respectiveadjustment element is associated with the reversing valve, the thirdvalve, the fourth valve and the fifth valve, for selectively actuatingthe reversing valve, or the reversing valve and the third valve, or thefourth valve and the fifth valve, or for interrupting the delivery ofair to the fourth valve.

1. A pneumatic apparatus for firing an automatic firing weapon,comprising a cylinder which can be impinged with air from a compressedair source, a first valve for controlling actuation of said cylinder, asecond valve which is open in its starting position, said second valvebeing closed upon actuating said first valve in order to interrupt theinfeed of air to said cylinder.
 1. A pneumatic apparatus for firing anautomatic firing weapon, comprising a cylinder which can be impingedwith air from a compressed air source, a first valve for controllingactuation of said cylinder, a second valve which is open in its startingposition, said second valve being closed upon actuating said first valvein order to interrupt the infeed of air to said cylinder.
 2. Thepneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a thirdvalve and delay elements for returning the second valve back into itsstarting position, said third valve being closed in its startingposition and being actuated via the second valve through the agency ofsaid delay elements.
 3. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein said cylinder can be connected via the first valve with thecompressed air source.
 4. The pneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 3,further including a fourth valve which is normally open, a fifth valvefor closing the fourth valve for interrupting the infeed of air to thecylinder, said fifth valve being actuated via delay elements.
 5. Thepneumatic apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including a reversingvalve for selectively delivering compressed air to the cylinder from thesecond valve or from the fourth valve.